Overlanding Gear That's Actually Worth the Money 

I resisted getting a fridge for the longest time and would just say that a good cooler was all I needed. But even a good cooler (like Yeti, RTIC, or Pelican) needs new ice a couple of times on a week+ long trip and I finally got fed up with thinking "we need to run into town for more ice). Now that I have a fridge, I can't imagine going on a trip without it. No more buying ice and no more soggy food.

I know overlanding is not really about more than just one night at camp before moving on, but the Joolca Hottap Nomad kit is definitely on my top 5 purchases if not #1. I have this along with the shower tent and no one goes to bed without a shower. Yes, I get poked fun at until they take a shower, then they cook me every meal. :)

A 12v compressor dual zone fridge is invaluable. The money and headache savings on ice and all it's challenges is worth it alone.

For bugs, I'd highly recommend several ThermaCell's for in camp. They work fantastic in calm conditions.

Things I might add are a decent backpacking stove, a CGear sand free mat, and an overlanding shower awning. I live in California, land of burn bans, but often certain types of backpacking stoves are okay. Additionally, if I want to stop quickly at a rest area or don't want to pull out my full stove for breakfast, I can heat water for oatmeal and tea quickly in the morning while breaking camp and just be good to go, or make a quick hot drink on my way somewhere to carry me until dinner. CGear sand free mats are amazing. I got a beach mat some years ago and just bought a 6'×6' one for the front of my new ground tent. They are engineered that dirt and sand can fall through but not come back up the other way. If you have a ground tent or an overlanding trailer or teardrop or an overlanding shower awning, these can be amazing for preventing dirt and sand getting into your tent. You can also get them in different sizes and create a front porch space for your camp rig as well. One thing I've come to love is my overlanding shower awning. Any surf lot, any hiking trail head I can wash up. Instant changing room, instant privacy tent to use as an outhouse with my bucket toilet. If you spend a lot of time at the beach or lake or getting disgusting mountain biking or hiking, totally worth it.

The fridge has been amazing to have on our off road adventures. Since we trailer the jeep during the trip the vl45pro is usually in the back seat of the truck and on trails in the jeep. Game changer all around. And the devos is well worth the money. After the patreon run with you guys I bought one. Super nice for around camp or working on stuff in the garage.

For years, when the kids were young, we used a 12V Koolatron cooler. One that has a control panel with a temperature gauge on the top. It’s not a fridge and it’s no longer made, but I still have it and it works fairly good. After buying the Jeep, I’m kinda on a budget. It’s what I’m planning on using and perfect for a solo camper like me.

What’s works awesome for me is the Goal Zero lantern. It charges via USB and it has a hand crank on top in case you can’t charge it. It also has any emergency red flashing light if needed. And a USB port to charge a phone. Dimmable and single or double sided light. Thank you for all the great content. 👍🏻

Great video! Definitely some ways to make camp more comfortable and enjoyable. However, sleep systems! Fridge, portable power, and sleep systems are the game changers worth actually investing in first on a build. Sleep systems will allow you to stay warm/cool and comfortable. Nothing worse than getting a crappy night sleep, or wet etc. This needs to be discussed more in gear videos on a lot of channels. Sleep pads, bags and some type of shelter (doesnt have to be rtt or anything "premium"). Anyway as always great video. Offers a lot of insight for people looking to make outtings more enjoyable

My must-haves are my fridge (Iceco JP40), an Ecoflow River Plus (750Wh), Gazelle T-4 tent, InReach Mini, and soon to include the Devos 1200. The only rechargeable electronics I have are my InReach and my cellphone. I will probably upgrade to a dual-zone Iceco next year since I like ice cream and we have a lot of vacuum sealed frozen food that would make meal prep much easier for longer trips. What I'd *REALLY* like to see you do is a comprehensive review of camp chairs. Brutally honest pros-and-cons, prices, etc. So far my go-to is the GCI Freestyle Rocker, but it takes up a lot of space in the Jeep. I'd love to get a very high quality, comfortable fully collapsible chair that can handle a 275 pound adult.

Really love my 65qt SetPower fridge - plenty of space for 1.5 week trip for wife & I. Also got to try the Wave2 a;c unit on the same trip - had to turn temp up, then off since it got our suv (where we sleep) so cool.

I gotta say that the fridges are definately a game changer. .. I myself dig the Renogy equipment. Recommended by an electrician at work, so I gave it a go and really like it.

Great to see you guys set up with proper LiFePO4 power. I'm outgrowing my 37L fridge, so looking into the ICECO offerings. Keep the great videos coming!

Really cool items that will add so much to the outdoors experience… Thank you for sharing

Thank you so much Matt for this information. Very helpful

I appreciate that people take the time to give their input. Thank you. I'm new to outdoor camping. Going to make 2024 my year of exploring.

This vids 100%, between my Iceco, wave2, and I bought some USB led lights that I run off of a Ecoflow delta...totally changed the experience!

I recently bought a 45qt 12v fridge and let me tell you, it’s an absolute game changer! Don’t sleep on getting one

I love my 12v fridge. Was a total game changer.

I've bought damn near everything you've recommended. I'll be a full-time supporter soon.

Some of that when younger I would have scoffed at, but the heater and AC is becoming a must. Others are just really nice to have... The list works well for me.

"Game changer" options: revolutionary, innovative, ingenious? One item I like to have is a shower source. From either a separate pop-up tent with a suspended water bag to a rack mounted "ensuite shower" with a propane heated shower system. It depends on your budget and set-up.

Thanks. I’m building my own trailer and I’m trying too keep the needs low. Lol. Like some have said hot water on the go is a nice add. Security it also a good one, like cameras for when you sleep or leave your rig. Also tag devices in case things get stolen. For us in the north having back up heater sources like a small wood stove installed or backup propane heater.

Ill always remember when I was a young kid when my mom would say "Pack up the car were going camping".. Never had much just the basics and we always had the most fun. Ive got alot of camping gear nowadays but you really dont need much to enjoy the good ol outdoors.. All that matters is you're out there and enjoying it. All this gear is just add ons and are quality of life upgrades when camping.

The Iceco compressors are made by the same company that makes the Dometic ones.

We end up having to take an extra tote that closes and seals very well to put our trash in that and keep that inside the gladiator overnight, due to bears in our TN/NC mountains.

Great video. I would say the Joolca hot tap for having hot showers is a great thing.

Thanks for another great video. The 2 big items for me would be aux power set up and the fridge. Really appreciate your input and thank you for the great content.

Great Info! Add portable Tempur-Pedic mattress for tent camping! We always bring them and you get a great nights sleep! They roll up like a long sleeping bag.

Love my fridge!! next is aux battery set up, but I love my Bluetti EB 70. Thanks Matt great gear.

Again all valid. Personally, I own the first 4 (different brands) but these stay in the gladiator full time. Currently I'm south for a month but when I go back up north for the next few months these are a game changer. If you don't have a fridge and travel, there is ZERO reason to own a yeti or similar cooler. I would love to try the air conditioning but that cost is hard to swallow when I have no intention of staying in the south during the summer months

Great review Matt. A French press for coffee is a must for us.

I'd love to see a remote option for those lights!

so far i really like my BougeRV CRPRO 30QT 12 Volt Refrigerator.

I stay away from Overlanding stores when buying gear as I have found through the years prices are inflated. Most of my gear I have acquired from surplus stores.

Thanks for these vids Matt! I’ve got $700 in my cart right now on various things I’m excited to get my TH up and running

Hi Matt, very nice video. Awesome products! Thank you for sharing 😊

I am liking the Light Ranger idea & how great they would be @ camp for light high up & fooling the bugs - That's gold Son GOLD...

Really good video the only thing you forgot was tricked out Jeep Gladiator 😂

Great video! I found it to be spot on just like your video on useless overlanding gear.

Great video! We have 6 out of 8 with the EcoFlow AC on the wish list. (East Coast Humidity) and no communicator. We love our IceCo 3 in 1, Pop-Up Fire Pit (tip: pick up a welding blanket for extra safety under it) and the Devos LightRanger 1200 w/filters As you said, it's not cheap, but this has helped us reduce so many extra lights we used to take. P.S spotted the missing tent which from the get go, seemed short. Can't wait to see what's coming. Ikamper Skycamp 3....😂 Mark (& Teresa) Hampstead Maryland Ford Ranger - GFC Camper V2 #1919

I would love for a more compact A/C unit but the lighting system in this is a must i take a lot of mountain adventures those would be perfect for

I saw in your garage in a previous video, the small aluminum tables that are so easy to put up!

Dang it Matt, it’s 10:05 and I have to be up super early. If I’m tired tomorrow it’s all your fault!!! 😂😂😂

Are you able to use the eco flow wave 2 plugged in if we happen to be at a place with electric available?

HI 👋 FOR THE ONE THAT SETS UP LIKE A CHAIR / LETS SAY / I'VE SEEN ON E BAY AN PROPANE INSERT I WAS THINKING OF GETTING IS A HAIR TO BIG WAS GOING TO CUT THE FRAME A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE IT FIT ! I LOVE THAT ONE EVERYTHING BURNS TO DUST , IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN . STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SIZE FRIDGE & WHICH SIZE BATTERY BANK TO BY MOST OF THE TIME TWO PEOPLE 🤔 TWO DOGS LONG WEEKEND TO A WEEK GET ALWAYS . THANK YOU 🙏

Love these two video ideas.

Thanks for another great video and your suggestions. I have a question regarding both of your Jeeps. Do you have a brake controller on your Jeeps since you pull trailers? If so, what type and where did you install the controller? Did you make a video on installing your brake controllers? Thanks for your time on these questions. I hope to meet you in the near future.

Awesome tips. Why the ecoflow wave 2 could not replace the diesel heater? With solar panels, wouldn’t it be possible to winter camp with the ecoflow?

Something nobody is talking about with the 12 v fridges is how they keep them in the suv when it's 100 degrees outside, I had to park my grad cherokee with a fridge and battery setup while 100 degrees for a couple hrs and they had to run constantly while both create heat in an already hot environment and they both almost burned up. Hot to the touch

A battery powered chain saw. I had to clear 5 downed trees on a trail this weekend. And bring extra batteries and a way to recharge them.

Matt, what do you think about power options like the KickAss portable power stations in place of the systems you and your better half have? I've debated both and curious about your thoughts/opinions.

Re: Propane fire pits: They are great for summertime burn ban ambiance. They can also be set up inside a large screened in room, which will hold in more heat. Once it gets actually cold(below 40), I believe it’s possible to freeze to death (hyperbole) next to a propane fire pit.

Devos Light Ranger!

I don't have room for much, but have a SetPower. I could have a problem staying charged with my Jackery 500. My solar doesn't do that well in overcast days. There are times in Oregon when you can't even use a fire pit; not often though.

another great video Matt.

Good video. Thank you for taking the time to share. Questions: How noisy is the diesel heater and the two air conditioners that you talked about?

Just purchase the ICECO APL55 , just waiting for it to be shipped. Great to hear your opinion on. A couple of things about though, is ICECO doesn’t show a slide out to fit it specifically as with the other models nor does it show a cover. I see you have yours on a slide out, would you mind sharing either the one that your using or recommend one that fit’s closest to the correct size. Thanks for all your invaluable information to someone new to this.

For folks that keep lithium in their vehicles during the summer have you noticed any premature deaths of the batteries? They aren’t rated for the temps a car sees in the sun.

A fridge and adequate power source for week-long adventure will be my #1 must-have for insulin storage. BTW, it looks like BougeRV trolled this episode with a commercial for their fridge 😅😅

With the ignik, a 2 second mod drilling the disconnect with a 1/16 drill bit will game change it. I get flames 3 to 4 feet high and it is plenty warm enough for a group around it regardless of the temp outside

I'm a huge fan of the Devos light ranger. The top hat solar panel (mine was one of the last ones they sold with a 10W panel) allows you to set up the light and not have to worry about charging it after using it the night before. The only thing I'd wish they would include is a remote to control it once it's deployed (otherwise you have to bring the light down and deal with the bugs to turn it off).

Rather than a portable AC unit I find a potable dehumidifier does the same thing, is far cheaper, and have be more long-term reliable.... full disclosure, I haven't tried those two 'honorable mention' units though.

Great video! About the popup firepit: Does that abide by the fire pit ban you have or not?

Very cool video and appreciate the info on all the cool gear. Love your channel. Just getting into overland using my jku. I used to backpack a lot years ago and I feel like all of this equipment isn’t needed and it’s more glamping than adventure? Overglamping maybe, lol! I feel like all I need is what I can fit in my pack and any additional gear is for the vehicle. My purchase focus is recovery and repair gear, Jeep mods that beef up the vehicle’s integrity and capabilities, safety gear, and first aid. I want the vehicle to be as light and capable as possible. Am I missing something?

Excellent list and recommendations. I really dig the Goal Zero Chroma Crush lights- they can charge via solar or USB, and you can switch to red light which is really good for getting in and out of your tent in buggy environments.

Thanks for the Zero Breeze info. We will be traveling full time by next year and a portable A/C unit fits the bill for our future poor man's expedition vehicle. What is the real world amp draw on the unit?

Great vid!

12v fridge... Is it worth the money??? Totally. Do you need one to go overlanding? NOPE. A good cooler can be had at a reasonably price, and if you bottle water in recycled 2l bottles or similar containers you then have ice cold drinking water as the ice melts. You can even build your own cooler with foam insulation that is as good or better than the expensive yeti coolers at a fraction of the cost ((a number of DIY instructions and plans are online it is not a difficult build ranging from using wood or plastic totes to diamond plate aluminum) AND if you are in bear country, a properly insulated welded aluminum trailer box is pretty bear resistant as coolers go, though this makes for a MUCH more expensive cooler))... This is a great solution for the weekender overlanders... on the other hand if you are going on a week long "expedition" or more, you will definitely do better with an electric fridge. At around $1000 it is an investment but well worth the money for longer trips. Portable fire pit... Propane or not... is it worth the money? Yup... Nothing like sitting around the fire at the end of the day. Do you need one for overlanding? No, but you should probably get one. Ground fires are being banned all over the country with good reason. It is a decent investment. Diesel heater... For cold weather camping it is worth it, but one could also make an argument for a simple 12v or even 120v electric blanket if you have a dual battery, or a lithium power pack (they are NOT generators people, regardless of what the marketing people call them they are battery packs). Regardless of your choice, they are more convenient and arguably more comfortable than a sleeping bag system that can handle the range of temperatures that a heater of some form can. Do you NEED them for overlanding? No, but they will make life easier and more comfortable in the cold so it is money well spent. Auxiliary power. Whether you go dual battery, or power pack, it is one of the best investments you will make in the camping side of overlanding. Not essential unless you want the other electric gear, but well worth it for SO MANY applications. Satcomm... Fast becoming an essential piece of safety gear... If you can afford it, it is absolutely worth it. Especially the further away from civilization you get... Even in someplace relatively small like Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you have no cell signal in MOST of the park, even along MAIN roads You NEED some form of emergency communications whether it is getting your amateur radio license and having a radio with you, or one of these satellite communicators. If your idea of overlanding involves getting further away from civilization than a weekend camping trip, it is a must. At the time of this post, the service plans for the zoleo are $20/mo for the basic plan which gives you 25 satellite messages (SMS, Email, weather reports, and more) and you can suspend the account when it is not going to be in use for $4 per month, for $35/mo you can get 250 messages, or for $50/mo you can get unlimited. Location sharing (bread crumb/trip tracking, which is a popular feature of satellite communicators), costs $6/mo more. Inreach plans start at $12/mo, or for 10 SMS txt messages (tracking costs $0.10 per point) and weather is divided between basic which simply costs you a sms message allocation or Premium weather which costs $1 per message. For $25/mo you get 40 messages, but tracking becomes unlimited, and for $50 messages and basic weather become unlimited (the premium weather is still $1 per message extra) Unlike the zoleo, you can not suspend the account cheaply. Honestly I have been a fan of inReach since they released the mini, but I think at present the Zoleo APPEARS to be the best choice on the market overall unless you are an avid "get away from civilization" hiker or something who is out in the woods every week but never plans to actually use the device. (I have HEARD that it IS possible to shop around and pick a different country as your "home" with the inreach and get different pricing.) Air Conditioner? Lets look at it seriously for a moment here... If you are in HOT climates, it is probably an essential, and AC has been available for campers since at least the 80s having started on RVs and large travel trailers, then trickled down to popup campers by at least the mid 90s. I have seen many "window unit" ACs plugged into generators at camp blowing into a tent window here in Tennessee as late as september and even november hunting seasons. It is not "essential" but it makes life in hot weather MUCH more comfortable. At bare minimum, you want a good portable fan of some form if you do any camping in the summer heat. If you can budget it, it is well worth the money as a CAMP LUXURY. As other people in the comments have pointed out some form of shower (I have taken a solar shower with me for close to 3 decades now, they are "walmart cheap" and absolutely worth it. There are more convenient and more expensive approaches, and trust me it can be a pain to deal with a solar shower if you are an always on the move type overlander like Matt. There are many options ranging from DIY with some PVC pipe painted black (making a solar shower) to propane or electric water heaters with electric pumps. Get what works for you, and you will be glad you did at the end of the day. Bug control... ABSOLUTELY worth the money, arguably more important than anything on the list... Again as mentioned by others in the comments, Thermocel is a great bug deterrent I got one for hunting from a stand or blind and love it, though it is yet another scent that deer can pick up on not that this matters for overlanding unless you are trying to do wildlife photography and want to get dangerously close to the wildlife. You can treat your outer layers of clothing with permethrin for great mosquito and tick prevention (I treat my pants, shirt, hat, and socks as the mild winters in the south east often fail to kill off the previous years tick populations. Permethrin is one of the safer bug "sprays" and it lasts for a month and a half of regular use. I also have a full bug suit, which while not the most convenient option works nicely (I will usually leave the booties off and secure the ankles with elastic straps))

Whoa! Those lights are $150?!? That's double what it feels like they're worth

Great Video!!!

Hi, what roof top do you use & can you recommend a tent? We are using a Gazelle now. Thanks Paula

Very valuable!!

I watched a video where your wife showed bags that are in her rubicon that hold towels. Now I can’t find the video to catch the brand of those bags. Anyone know what they are?

What’s the best way to power the fridge for longer trips?

The storage bags y’all have in back of the wrangler on the roll bar, what are those?!?!

just subscribed and love your videos.

But I thought you said that the solar panel was useless in your referenced video? I don't know if I should buy it or not now :(. 16:54

you can buy a fridge for similar to a high end cooler but that's not the whole picture. You still need a power station, probably a solar panel, and then a place/solution to mount the fridge. It's easily a $1500 setup by time your done with the most basic budget amazon fridge and a ~500wh power station. COmpared to my $400 cooler... it's really not similar. That being said, i still want a fridge someday!

Dometic Fridge rules, would not travel without one

the girl rocking at 3:43. that chair, do you know what brand that is? that looks amazing.

How well is the fridge holding up to being “open air” so to speak? I’ve been debating putting one in my truck bed or the back seat because I wasn’t sure how it would hold up with the only protecting being a rack and tent above it.

Matt how are you liking your power stop breaks?!?

New subscriber so please be patient. Please explain your 12 v battery and charging set up. Thanks!

HI 👋 BE SAFE ! HAVE FUN ! ENJOYED 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 GOD BLESS YOU BOTH ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 🙏 THANK YOU 🙏

With your diesel heater do you tie into the 490s ducting? Thanks

I have the Zero Breeze MKII with 2 batteries which gets about 6 hours of runtime each. Unfortunately, these things only cool temps down by a max of 15 degrees at temperatures of 97F and below (anything hotter and it doesn't do much to make things comfortable). They are working on a MKIII unit which will double the BTUs (to 5000) which SHOULD help cool things better in the crazy southern heat.

I am surprised you didn't mention a drone as a worth it. You should do a video on drones sometime. Maybe a small tutorial and which one you use and why. How regulations apply. Not sure if you have ever done something like that before. Would be cool.

I wouldn’t call any system with Redarc as a component reasonably priced. I have one and they are outstanding but not reasonably priced. If you don’t have a solar input going to it then it’s an absolute waste of money. The only reason to chose the Redarc is because it cuts out a separate solar controller because it also performs that duty. Other quality units can be had for half the price but are only bc/dc chargers from the alternator

Hi, at 10:00 minute in the video in your wifes jeep, whats the name os that shelf/draw set up? So you have a video on it?

Can you provide link for those Evos outdoor lights you recommended or where you got them from? I tried Amazon with no luck, probably miss spelled.

You forgot a must have...toilet!😅

How is the new Iceco performing now that it’s hot out? I’m debating between VL45 Pro vs the Dometic 55IM. As of right now about a $300 difference.

I bought a well known dual fridg/freezer and have not been impressed with it. In the heat of the day the inside of the fridg can climb to 50F and the freezer to 17. FDA guidelines say -10 to 0 and 34 to about 37. My unit is underpowered. I suspect that is a problem with all of these 12V units.

I’m sure if that British actor Julian Sands had one of those GPS emergency devices he might of made it by hitting that emergency button unless he fell and died instantly, but still sad story…

take a shot every time he says "system" #drinkinggamedeathchallenge

Which diesel heater do you recommend? Ty

12:38 new iPhones have a satellite SOS feature for emergency situations

Amen... we got so tired of buying ICE and soggy food! A must!!! Wait.. you get Popsicles?? LOL!

Another gear video? Shocker